Rubber-footwear retainer.



T. C- WILDER- RUBBER FOOTWEAR RETAINER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-16, 1915.

1 172,509. Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

T; CXQLDER" 95% .N. S. )M

Tm: COLUMBIA Pumoumwn cm, WASHINGTON. n. c.

THEARON C. WILDER, CATTARAUGUS, NEW YORK.

RUBBE-R-FOOTVEAR RETAINER.

Application filed September 16, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THEARON C. WVILDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cattaraugns, in the county of Cattaraugus, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Rubber-Footwear Retainer; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. H

The present invention relates to a retaining device for fastening rubbers to shoes,

- and has forits object to provide a device of this character whichembodies novel features of construction whereby the heel end of the rubber can be securely fastened to the shoe so that there will be no danger of the rubber becoming stuck and pulling away from the shoe when walking through the mud.

Furtherobjects of the invention are to provide a rubber retaining device of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be quickly placed in position or removed therefrom, which can be adjusted to compensate for the wearing away of the heel of the shoe so as to always retain the rubber firmly in position against the heel of the shoe, and which can either be removed from the shoe during dry weather'or snapped thereon and secured flat against the shoe so as not to detractfrom the appearance thereof. I i

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel combina tions and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention," reference is to be had to the following de-' scription and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a rubber applied to a shoe and held in position thereon by a fastener constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view ,of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the retaining strap, on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the rear end of the rubber, and Fig. 5 is a similar view through-the back of the shoe, showing the sockets in position therein. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing a modified form of the invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 51,053.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description .and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describlng the present embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designates a shoe which may be of any con 'ventional construction, and 2 the usual rubber over-shoe which is adapted to be worn 1 upon the shoe 1 1n stormy weather. A pair of sockets?) are applied to the heel end of the shoe 1 in such a position as to be located slightly above the top of the rubber 2 when the latter is in position upon the shoe. A

similar spring socket 4 is located at the back 1 of the shoe, slightly above the heel l thereof, .so as to be covered by the rubber 2 when the latter is imposition.

The retaming strap is formed in two sections, the upper section 5 being adjustably connected to the lower section 5 by means of a suitable buckle 6 so that the effective length of the strap can be increased or decreased as may be found necessary to hold the rubber tightly in position against the heel of the shoe. The upper section 5 of the retaining strap is formed with-an enlarged upper end 5 which projects laterally in op-.

posite directions and is provided with a pair of heads 7 properly positioned to snap into the sockets 3 of the shoe and hold the upper end of the retaining strap flat against the back of the shoe. The lower end 5* of the retaining strap is formed with a similar the socket at of the shoe, or into a similarly positioned socket 9 upon the back .ojf'the rubber 2. d

When the rubber 2 is in position upon the head 8 which is; adapted to snap either into I of the retaining strap snapped into the .ber is loose upon the shoe and is not attached thereto in some manner. It is important thatthe rubber fit tightly against the shoe heel in order that there may be no play or looseness of the rubber upon the shoe, and the retaining strap has accordingly been made adjustable so that it can be shortened to compensate for the wearing away of the heel 1 of theshoer When the rubber is not worn, the retaining strap may either be completely removed from the shoe, or the head 8 at the lower end thereof snapped into the lower socket i so as to hold the retaining strap flat against the heel of the shoe. The

mouths of the sockets 3 ands are flush with the surface of the shoe so that there are no exterior projections to detract from the appearance thereof, and the retaining strap fits flat against the shoe and rubberso that t iere are no unsightlyand objectionable projections.

Fig. 6 illustrates a slight modification in which the retaining strap 10 is formed of a single piece of materiahinstead of in two adjustably connected sections, as in the previous instance. The upper end of the retaining strap 10 is enlarged to provide the lateral extensions 5 which carry the heads 7, said heads being adapted .to snap into'the spring sockets 3 of the shoe, exactly as previously described. The lower end of the re taining straplO engages a buckle 6 so that the effective length of the strap can beadjusted to compensate for the wearing away of the heel of the shoe and always-hold the rubber tightly against the shoe heel without any looseness or play. The lower head 8 corresponding to the head 8 of the former construction, is carried by the buckle G and is adapted to engage the spring socket 9 of the rubber. The operation of the deviceis eXactlyas previously described, although the modified construction may be found preferable under certain conditions.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination w'th a shoe and an overshoe, of upper and lower snap fastener elements applied to the heel end of the shoe,

strap; and adapted to cooperate with'the snap fastener elements on the shoe and overshoe, said snap fastener elements on the shoe,

overshoe, and strap being so arranged that;

the strap may be secured by its opposite ends to the shoe or to the shoe and overshoe to hold the oyershoe in position on the shoe.

2. The combinationiwith a shoe and over shoe, of upper and lower snap fastener elements applied to theheel end of theishoe, a snap fastener element applied to the heel end of the overshoe, a retaining-strap formed in upper and lower;adjustably connected. sections, and snap fastener elements applied to the. upper and lower sections of the'retaining strap and adapted to cooperate with the snap fastener elements on the shoe and overshoefsaid snap fastener elements on the shoe,

overshoe and strap being so arranged that shoe, a socket applied to; the overshoe and.

positioned in a manner corresponding to the lower socket of the shoe, a retaining :strap formed in upper andlower adjustably con? nected sections, and headsapplied to the up. per and lower sections of the retaining strap,

said heads being adapted to be snapped into: a

the upper socket of the shoe and the socket of the overshoe to secure the overshoe upon: the shoe, or to be snapped into the sockets of the shoe to hold the strap fiatagainst the shoe. V

In. testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEARON C. WILDER.

Witnesses:

WALLACE VAXAERNAM, A. L. MrLLnR.

Copies of this: patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe. Commissioner of .Iatentg; Washington, D. G. 

